MIDGE-TRAPPING BEHAVIOR AND FLORAL BIOLOGY OF THERIOPHONUM-CRENATUM BLUME. RUMPH. (ARACEAE)

The species Theriophonum crenatum is a rare aroid collected from the o pen forest of Bilaspur (MP), It exhibited a crepuscular pollination sy ndrome and monophily towards a midge, Ceratopogon sp, The midges get t rapped during the night hours, locked the following day, and released during the next day after having been dusted by the pollen released fr om the collar of male flowers. As many as 380 midges have been collect ed from a single blossom. The blossom is bisexual and reveals protogyn y to avoid self-pollination.